India, Jan. 27 -- Four of the country's five national airlines, which together fly 95% of passengers, are nudging the government to relax the new crew rest rules that came into force on November 1 last year, multiple officials told HT, who said the companies contend the regulation is unsustainable in the long run.

The rules pertain to what is known as flight duty time limitations (FDTL), which were toughened after an arduous litigation led by pilots who called for stricter limits on how long and what hours aviators can work for airliners in the interest of passenger safety.

"Airlines have approached the ministry to ask for certain relaxations in the newly mandated FDTL. Discussions are going on," said an official requesting anonymity, a...